Book Image

Using CiviCRM - Second Edition

By : Erik Hommel, Joseph Murray, Brian P Shaughnessy
Book Image

Using CiviCRM - Second Edition

By: Erik Hommel, Joseph Murray, Brian P Shaughnessy

Overview of this book

CiviCRM provides a powerful toolbox of resources to help organizations manage relationships with constituents. It is free, open source, web-based, and geared specifically to meet the constituent relationship management needs of the not-for-profit sector. Beginning with broader questions about how your organization is structured, which existing workflows are critical to your operations, and the overarching purpose of a centralized CRM, the book proceeds step by step through configuring CiviCRM, understanding the choices when setting up the system, importing data, and exploring the breadth of tools available throughout the system. You will see how to best use this software to handle event registrations, accept and track contributions, manage paid and free memberships and subscriptions, segment contacts, send bulk e-mails with open and click-through tracking, manage outreach campaigns, and set up case management workflows that match your organization’s roles and rules. With specific emphasis on helping implementers ask the right questions, consider key principals when setting up the system, and understand usage through case studies and examples, the book comprehensively reviews the functionality of CiviCRM and the opportunities it provides. With this book, you can help your organization better achieve its mission as a charity, industry association, professional society, political advocacy group, community group, government agency, or other similar organization and position yourself to become a power user who efficiently and effectively navigates the system.
Table of Contents (20 chapters)
Using CiviCRM - Second Edition
Credits
About the Authors
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

Referencing campaigns throughout the system


Campaigns provide the glue to connect different records throughout your system. By referencing a campaign in different areas of your site, you associate them with the project and can track your progress toward the campaign goals. In the following different ways, you can connect records to campaigns:

  • Activities: When you create an activity, you have the option of linking it to a campaign. Let's say that your project involves phone outreach efforts to potential members. As your staff places those calls, they can create an activity to record the details of the conversation and associate it with a campaign. Activities can also record an Engagement Index—a metric to rate how engaged a certain activity may be considered. For example, sending an unsolicited e-mail to a prospective donor may be a low engagement level (1)—you are initiating the conversation with no assurance of a response. However, if your constituent calls you to discuss their interest...